Multipin electrical plug-in connector

ABSTRACT

In order to design a multipole electrical connector ( 1 ) with double locking of the contact portions ( 2 ) by a finger ( 7 ) engaging in the contact portion ( 2 ) and by a thrust element ( 10 ) which can be inserted laterally in a housing ( 3 ) of insulating material, in such a way that the housing ( 3 ) of insulating material and the contact portion ( 2 ) in the insertion region are protected against damage, the thrust element ( 10 ) consists of a locking comb ( 11 ) and a cover plate ( 12 ) which are connected to each other in one piece by integrally formed transverse webs ( 13 ).

The invention starts from a multipole electrical connector according tothe introductory part of claim 1.

Such an electrical connector is known from DE

4131768 A1. The connector consists of a housing and a locking device.Contact portion chambers arranged in the housing are equipped in thedirection of insertion with contact portions which are primarily lockedby means of resilient fingers formed integrally with the inner walls ofthe contact portion chambers. Final locking of the contact portions isdone by a locking device which can be inserted in an opening of thehousing transversely to the direction of insertion of the contactportions. The contact portion chambers end in the region of insertion ata perforated front wall of the housing. Each contact portion chamber isassigned two openings in the front wall. An insertion opening serves toreceive counter contact portions, and a release opening allowsdeflection of the finger by means of a blade-like tool to release thecontact portion.

The design of the insertion region is determined by the possibleinjection moulding techniques with such small constructions. Theinsertion opening and the release opening are arranged in such a waythat no undercuts arise. Consequently the injection moulding tool or itscores are of simple construction. The insertion opening which is adaptedto the cross-section of the counter contact portion protects the contactportion in the contact portion chamber visually from incorrectmanipulations. The adjacent insertion opening is however due to thebasic conditions of injection moulding larger than necessary andunprotected and permanently accessible both before and after assemblyand secondary locking of the connector. Consequently there is a risk ofdamage to the contact portions and the fingers during assembly and alsoafter mounting at the site of installation.

From U.S. Pat No. 4,557,542 is known a non-generic connector of whichthe contact portions are latched exclusively by means of resilientfingers extending into contact portion chambers. The latching positionof the fingers is ensured with a locking strip which can be inserted inthe front side of the housing. Here too after assembly of the contactportions on the housing until final mounting of the locking strip,damage to the contact portions or fingers is possible.

It is the object of the invention to design an electrical connector withdouble locking of the contact portions according to the introductorypart of claim 1 in such a way that contact portions can be assembled onthe housing variably and the housing is protected against damage in theinsertion region and that it is possible to produce it with littleexpenditure on manufacture and mounting.

This object is achieved with the characteristics indicated in thecharacterising part of claim 1. The subject of claim 1 has the advantagethat the combination of a locking comb and cover plate into a one-pieceprefitted thrust element protects the contact portion chambers and hencealso the contact portions from incorrect access. Separation of the coverplate from the housing of insulating material makes it possible toretain the proven secondary locking system and allows assembly of thehousing of insulating material from both the front and rear.Coordination of the cover plate and locking comb in one piece ensures acycle of movement in the correct sequence. Only on reaching the correctsecondary locking position is connection to the corresponding countercontact portions possible due to alignment of the contact portions withthe insertion openings. Due to coupling of the cover plate to thelocking comb, the connector consists only of two component parts. Theextraordinarily high tooling costs with such small applications fall.The contact portion chambers can be produced without complications andwithout undercuts which are elaborate in injection moulding, so that theinjection moulding core assembly and its removal from the mould isconceivably simple.

On assembly of contact portions on the housing of insulating material inthe mounting position of the thrust element and on introduction of thecounter contact portions in the locking position of the thrust element,access to the contact portion chambers is possible only throughprecisely defined insertion openings. Only orientation of the thrustpath transversely to the direction of insertion of the contact portionsallows, due to the cover plate resting permanently and directly on thefront side of the housing of insulating material, complete protection ofthe contact portion chambers already after prior mounting of the thrustelement.

Within the framework of the increasing reduction in size of allcomponents, exact and almost tolerance-free cooperation of individualelements is necessary. The cover plate and locking comb are connected toeach other by transverse webs, which gives the thrust element adequateinherent stability. Within the housing of insulating material acorresponding profile opening receives the transverse webs and lockingcomb of the thrust element and serves as a guide channel. Consequentlythe movements of the cover plate on the front side are also defined.Additional guide means at the edges of the cover plate facilitatemounting and increase the precision of fitting. Both the mounting andlocking positions of the thrust element are defined by complementarylatch means which can be distinguished visually and also audibly.

In the cover plate is formed a longitudinal slot which is aligned withthe profile opening in the insertion region, so that a pin of the matingconnector can be introduced. The pin serves to secure the primarylocking system and can additionally act as means for coding or centringthe mating connector. The longitudinal slot moreover comprises inwardlydirected edges which thus completely encapsulate the contact portionchambers.

Axial alignment of the connector and mating connector takes place bytheir complementary outer shapes, so that incorrect insertion is notpossible. Within maximum tolerance ranges, however, initial tilting oneinside the other is possible, i.e. joining at an angle. Connectorsystems of this kind can be equipped with individual contact portionswhich before the majority of contact portions must engage with theircounter contact portions, so that a predefined state of connection iscreated first. To prevent these projecting contact portions frombuckling when joined at an angle, recesses are provided at thecorresponding insertion openings in the cover plate.

In case of repair, after separation of connector and mating connectorthe thrust element is completely removed from the profile opening andthen the primary locking system of the faulty contact portion isreleased from the now accessible contact portion chamber with a suitabletool.

The characteristics according to the invention can be embodied both onthe connector and its contact portions and on the mating connector andits counter contact portions. A sealed construction of the connectoraccording to the invention with the known sealing concepts is alsoconceivable.

The invention is described with reference to a practical example withthe aid of the drawings. They show:

FIG. 1 a view of the front side of an unassembled connector with thethrust element in the locking position introduced into a housing ofinsulating material;

FIG. 2 a side view of the connector according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 another side view of the connector according to FIG. 1 in thelongitudinal direction L;

FIG. 4 a longitudinal section of the connector through line A—A in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 a cross-section of the connector fitted with a contact portionthrough line B—B in FIG. 1 in the mounting position during insertion ofthe contact portion;

FIG. 6 a cross-section of the connector according to FIG. 5 in thelocking position;

FIG. 7 a cross-section of the connector according to FIG. 6 with amating connector shown schematically.

The figures show an electrical connector 1 and a contact portion 2 whichcan be inserted therein, on an enlarged scale of about 5:1. Thecharacteristics and principles of operation of the contact portions 2are identical, so that one contact portion 2 is described in more detailby way of example. A mating connector 30 shown schematically can beassembled with this connector 1 to form a complete connection.

The connector 1 consists of an elongate housing 3 of insulating materialwhich is traversed from a front side 4 to a rear side 5 by contactportion chambers 6 arranged in a double row in the longitudinaldirection L. In each contact portion chamber 6 for the attachment of acontact portion 2 introduced from the rear side 5 is formed a finger 7.The arrangement of the contact portion chambers 6 in rows causesopposite contact portion chambers 6 to use an inner wall 8 jointly. Oneither side of this inner wall 8 a resilient finger 7 extends into therespective contact portion chamber 6.

In the longitudinal direction L the housing 3 of insulating material istraversed by a plunger-like profile opening 9 which serves to receive athrust element 10. The profile opening 9 intersects with all the contactportion chambers 6 and provides the free space for deflection of thefingers 7. The thrust element 10 can be displaced in the profile opening9 between a mounting position and a locking position and consists of alocking comb 11 and a cover plate 12 which are connected to each otherin one piece by transverse webs 13. The thrust element 10 is in theshape of an I beam, the locking comb 11 and transverse webs 13corresponding to the profile opening 9 in cross-section. The lockingcomb 11 is provided with teeth 14 which in the locking position in thecontact portion chamber 6 lock the contact portion 2. The cover plate 12is arranged outside the housing 3 of insulating material on its frontside 4. In the longitudinal direction L the cover plate 12 encompassesthe front side 4 by edges 15 on which grooves 16 are formed on theinside. The grooves 16 cooperate with corresponding rails 17 of thehousing 3 of insulating material and guide the cover plate 12 along thehousing 3 of insulating material. In the cover plate 12 are insertionopenings 18 arranged in a double row, which are each associated with acontact portion chamber 6 with its contact portion 2. In order tofacilitate the introduction of counter contact portions 31, theinsertion openings 18 are expanded with locating funnels 19. Between therows of insertion openings 18 in the cover plate 12 is formed alongitudinal slot 20 which is aligned with the profile opening 9 andcomprises an inwardly directed edge 21.

The mounting position and the locking position of the thrust element 10are guaranteed by means of latch projections 22, 22′, 22″ and latchopenings 23, 23′, 23″ which are formed integrally with the housing 3 ofinsulating material or with the cover plate 12. The shapes andarrangements of guide means 16, 17 and latch means 22, 23 on the housing3 of insulating material or on the thrust element 10 which are shown inthe figures are an example, as many other embodiments are possible.

The description below shows the manner of operation of the connector 1.After completion of the components of the connector 1, i.e. injectionmoulding of the housing 3 of insulating material and thrust element 10and stamping and shaping of the contact portion 2, the thrust element 10is introduced into the profile opening 9 of the housing 3 of insulatingmaterial and preassembled so as to latch. In this so-called mountingposition the contact portion chambers 6 on the front side 4 are closedby webs 24 between the insertion openings 18, so that no foreign bodiescan enter here. The contact portion 2 is introduced from the rear side 5of the housing 3 of insulating material into the contact portion chamber6. This is possible only in the mounting position, as the teeth 14 ofthe locking comb 11 of a thrust element 10 which has been displaced toofar would block introduction of the contact element 2. The fullyinserted contact element 2 abuts with its contact portion box 25 at thefront against a web 24 of the cover plate 12 and with a lug 26 against aprojection 27 in the contact portion chamber 6. The finger 7 which hasbeen deflected during insertion engages resiliently in a recess 28 ofthe contact portion 2 and thus forms the primary locking system.

The thrust element 10 is moved further in the longitudinal direction Land latched in the locking position. Advance of the thrust element 10 ispossible only if the contact portion 2 has been fully inserted in thecontact portion chamber 6, because otherwise the teeth 14 of the lockingcomb 11 would be blocked by part of the contact portion box 25. In thelocking position the teeth 14 of the locking comb 11 engage behind thecontact portion box 25 and so provide a secondary locking system for thecontact portion 2. The cover plate 12 is displaced likewise. Theinsertion openings 18 are arranged over the contact portion chambers 6,so that the counter contact portions of the mating connector can beintroduced and engaged with the contact portions 2.

The mating connector 30 comprises at least one pin 32 which engages inthe longitudinal slot 20 and in the profile opening 9 and additionallysecures the primary locking system, i.e. the fingers 7. At the same timethe primary locking system is checked. A pin 32 which cannot be fullyinserted indicates that there is inadequate springback of the finger 7into the recess 28 of the contact portion 2. Depending on the design,this pin 32 also undertakes centring or coding of the mating connector30.

For reasons of circuitry it may be necessary to provide the matingconnector 30 with counter contact portions 31, 31′ of different length.Recesses 29 on the corresponding insertion openings 18 in the coverplate 12 prevent the longer counter contact portions 31 from buckling ifthe mating connector 30 is joined at an angle.

From the moment of preassembly of the thrust element 10 to providing thelocking position, the contact portion chamber 6 or the contact portion 2is constantly protected from damage from the outside. The fit of thecover plate 12 on the housing 3 of insulating material is ensured byintegral connection to the locking comb 11 and additionally by the guidemeans 16, 17. The inwardly directed edges 21 of the longitudinal slot 20close the contact portion chamber 6 almost without a gap.

List of Reference Numbers

1 connector

2 contact portion

3 housing of insulating material

4 front side

5 rear side

6 contact portion chamber

7 finger

8 inner wall

9 profile opening

10 thrust element

11 locking comb

12 cover plate

13 transverse web

14 tooth

15 edge

16 groove

17 rail

18 insertion opening

19 locating funnel

20 longitudinal slot

21 edge

22 latch projection

23 latch opening

24 web

25 contact portion box

26 lugs

27 projection

28 recess

29 recess

30 mating connector

31 counter contact portion

32 pin

S direction of insertion

L longitudinal direction

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple electrical connector comprising: ahousing (3) of insulating material which is traversed from a front side(4) to a rear side (5) by contact portion chambers (6) arranged in rows,the housing having inwardly directed resilient fingers (7) extendingaway from the inner walls (8) of the housing though which a profileopening (9) extends which intersects perpendicularly with the contactportion chambers (6), contact portions (2) which can be introduced intothe contact portion chambers (6) and which can be primarily locked bythe fingers (7) engaging in respective recesses (28) of the contactportions (2), a thrust element (10) movable between a mounting positionand a locking position in the profile opening (9), the contact portions(2) being insertable into the contact portion chambers (6) in themounting position of the thrust element (10), the thrust element (10)including a locking cam (11) and a cover plate (12) which are connectedto each other in one piece by integrally formed transverse webs (13),the locking cam (11) having teeth (14) each engaging behind an edge (25)of the contact portions (2) in the locking position, the cover platehaving insertion openings (18) aligned with the contact portion chambers(6) in the locking position, and a recess (29) formed in at least oneinsertion opening (18) in the cover plate (12).
 2. A multiple electricalconnector comprising: a housing (3) of insulating material which istraversed from a front side (4) to a rear side (5) by contact portionchambers (6) arranged in rows, the housing having inwardly directedresilient fingers (7) extending away from the inner walls (8) of thehousing though which a profile opening (9) extends which intersectsperpendicularly with the contact portion chambers (6), contact portions(2) which can be introduced into the contact portion chambers (6) andwhich can be primarily locked by the fingers (7) engaging in respectiverecesses (28) of the contact portions (2), a thrust element (10) movablebetween a mounting position and a locking position in the profileopening (9), the contact portions (2) being insertable into the contactportion chambers (6) in the mounting position of the thrust element(10), the thrust element (10) including a locking cam (11) and a coverplate (12) which are connected to each other in one piece by integrallyformed transverse webs (13), the locking cam (11) having teeth (14) eachengaging behind an edge (25) of the contact portions (2) in the lockingportion, grooves (16) and rails (17) being formed on the cover plate(12) and on the front side (4) of the housing (3) of insulating materialrespectively or vice-versa, so that the cover plate (12) can be guidedon the housing (3) of insulating material.
 3. Multipole electricalconnector according to, claim 2 characterized in that complementarylatch means (22, 23) are formed on the housing (3) of insulatingmaterial and on the cover plate (12) of the thrust element (10).
 4. Amultiple electrical connector comprising: a housing (3) of insulatingmaterial which is traversed from a front side (4) to a rear side (5) bycontact portion chambers (6) arranged in rows, the housing havinginwardly directed resilient fingers (7) extending away from the innerwalls (8) of the housing though which a profile opening (9) extendswhich intersects perpendicularly with the contact portion chambers (6),contact portions (2) which can be introduced into the contact portionchambers (6) and which can be primarily locked by the fingers (7)engaging in respective recesses (28) of the contact portions (2), athrust element (10) movable between a mounting position and a lockingposition in the profile opening (9), the contact portions (2) beinginsertable into the contact portion chambers (6) in the mountingposition of the thrust element (10), the thrust element (10) including alocking cam (11) and a cover plate (12) which are connected to eachother in one piece by integrally formed transverse webs (13), thelocking cam (11) having teeth (14) each engaging behind an edge (25) ofthe contact portions (2) in the locking portion, the cover plate havinginsertion openings aligned with the contact portion chambers (16) in thelocking position, the insertion openings (18) being arranged in rows,and between the insertion openings (18) arranged in rows in the coverplate (12) is formed a longitudinal slot (20) through which a pin (32)of a mating connector (30) can be introduced from the front side (4)into the profile opening (9) of the housing (3) of insulating material,which fixes the fingers (7) in the contact portion chambers (6). 5.Multipole electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized inthat the longitudinal slot (20) comprises an inwardly directed edge(21).